UMMMMM...you are wrong. I didn't agree with you!

 

What exactly don't you agree with? Are you saying that you feel the fit and finish on your HHR is as good as the German and Asian brands? If so, what brands have you owned previous to the HHR to make that statement. I know you love your HHR so you may look past its faults but it does not mean they are not there. Thats my problem. I have hard time looking past a cars physical faults sometimes especially when they are excessive. My friends can't stand when I nitpick but that how I am.

 

I am more then sure you can get that car for between $12,500 and $13,500.

Considering your history In order to feel "right" about this car you will have to get it at a huge bargain. $14,500 is not a huge bargain for this car with 31,000 miles in two years. I would bet at first glance it was a rental and bought at auction for $10,500. I'm not a big fan of "corporate" owned cars.

Some claim they are well maintained. I think if it's areal American Corporation they look to save every penny and do the very MINIMUM as they are going to wholesale them anyway in a year or two. The renters certainly don't "baby" the cars either, If its a one owner car it's worth more in my world. A LOCAL owner is even better.

 

It really does not matter what all might think about their HHR.
What matters the most is your research, your feelings, your time, and the looks, the gas mileage of the car.
What you want/need from the Car!
I traded a 2003 Ford Explorer (which was paid off at that time) for my HHR, and I have never looked back!
Everyone will tell you what you should do, but only you can make that choice.
Faults on the HHR can be read on the Fourm by doing a Search.
From the Low front windshield, blind spots, window buttons, running bds, but you can adapt to most if not all. I am 5'8" tall, and I now have no problems at all. Enjoy your search for the answers you are looking for.
Karen and NEMO

 

I don't agree with you either, and I'll put my car up against any POS Volkswagen any day of the week. I'll put the Ecotec engine up against any mill from Asia as well.

Fit and finish, NVH, all of that I'll put up against any other car. I've driven my car for nearly 44,000 miles and I was one of the few early adopters of this vehicle. Like Snoop said, if you want "nicer" plastic and vinyl inside, maybe they could have foregone the power windows or locks. I also don't know where people are getting this paper-thin sheetmetal idea from either. My car has one small ding that you can barely see above one of the headlights from a rock truck, and one on the side from the parking lot.

The car is solid as a rock and the 2.4 engine was so quiet when I bought it that I almost didn't even hear the engine turn over. A lot of the problems people post about on this website also seem like widespread issues, but in fact very few people have those problems.

As for vehicle's I've owned, I come from a GM family, so yeah, I'm a little biased when the yuppies like to come around here and piss in the pool just for fun. However, my first car was essentially a rebadged Isuzu I-mark and it was nothing to sneeze at. Slow, underpowered, and very uncomfortable. My second car, a used Corsica, was a luxury car in comparison. I also sold cars for a while for Carmax and I've seen how people get taken by the whole "import" craze and drain their wallets on cars that just aren't worth the hype. Especially BMW, Volkswagen, Honda, and Toyota.

If you like the WHOLE car, buy it. If not, stick with what makes YOU happy on the inside. It's your money and it's a free country with a lot of choices.

 

Most rentals are better maintained than privately owned cars now days. In order to qualify for their lucrative lease rates, the rental companies have to follow the accelerated maintenance schedules as recommended by the manufacturer. Those schedules are cheaper to keep up to date than the lease rates the company would have to pay if they did not follow the schedules. When the vehicles are brought back to the GMAC Auction Lane, they often wind up having much fewer issues to be corrected by the wholesale dealer than privately leased or owned vehicles.

 

But a whole lot more miles. I don't trust rentals or large corporations. If there is never a warranty issue the dealer has no clue regarding the maintinance.

The Dealer needs the rental car companies more then the rental comany needs a specific dealer brand.

I have to say you are indeed biased by your GM connection. There is no way you can compare the HHR in fit and finish on a favorable level to a Jetta or BMW, or Toyota. And to compare the Ecotech to a Honda engine on any level is more than a stretch of logic.

Every time I pull the door handle I think it's going to come off..........

Don't get me wrong I love this car for the money I paid But I know what it is and what it's not, It's not a Jetta and certainly does not run as silky smooth or sound as sleek as Honda. It is a very practical car with unusual style, lots of space and creature comforts and is fun to drive.

 

I am not even going to get started, as I have learned that we all have our own opinions. I love my HHR, my wife will soon add the SECOND HHR to our family, and that is all I care about. If you choose to go buy something else, GO CRAZY...

 

As a long time fan and owner of German cars, I had to deal with the same issues when I first considered an HHR. What sold me, I guess, was how well it fit my needs. I wanted a daily driver that would haul what I needed it to, get decent mileage, and be relatively inexpensive to keep on the road. That the HHR looks just plain cool didn't hurt, either! I certainly feel that my Audi TT is a more finely crafted automobile- and for more than twice the price of the HHR, it should be! After a month or so of HHr ownership, here's my thoughts- if your planning to repalce your GTI and are considering the HHR strictly because of it's looks, I'd say pass- I think you'd miss the roadability and quality feel of the VW. The HHR is fun in its own right- but we're talking about a station wagon, after all. On the other hand, if you need versatility and cargo carrying ability,the HHr is a fun, great looking, and affordable way to get it! If it fits the bill for you you may decide, like I did, to overlook its flaws in favor of its uniqueness. If you do, Id say look for a 2.4 with the 5 speed to keep the fun factor as high as possible!
P.S.- An aftermarket rear sway bar is worth its' weight in gold on an HHR!

 

I say forget about it and buy your foreign junk!